January 19, 2017

"When I was five years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down HAPPY. They told me I didn't understand the assignment and I told them they didn't understand life." -- John Lennon

February 29, 2016

I love working with clients! They are always teaching me something and giving me ideas for yet another blog post. Today, for example, my client was remarking how he liked people to “get to the point” and not dilly-dally around and waste his time, especially at a job interview.

Maybe you are like that; maybe you are not.

Are you interviewing for a job?

Have you been asked the standard “So tell me about yourself?” question to which you replied:

"Well, I am loyal, honest and hardworking.

I have a lot of experience. I can do a lot of things.

I have a good education and like I said, I am very experienced.

Also, I am a very responsible worker.

And finally, I am very dependable.”

Imagine that you are the Hiring Manager listening to the above response.

Are you impressed? ___ Yes ___No

Are you falling off your chair because you are so enthralled with this response? ___Yes ___No

Does the job seeker stand out in your professional opinion? ___Yes ___No

Would you consider this candidate your Number One contender? ___Yes ___No

As a Hiring Manager, have you heard the above response at least 100 times, if not more? ___Yes ___No

If you are a job seeker, I would encourage you to spend some time building your best response to the “Tell Me About Yourself” question. Here’s one way to do so through three simple steps and three pieces of paper:

On a sheet of paper, write three facts (no longer than a tweet) about your experience, delivering proof as to why you are a standout candidate for the job of interest. Point 1; Point 2; Point 3. If your three tweets do not deliver compelling evidence, keep writing (and thinking) until you come up with your best, most relevant proof.

On the next sheet of paper, write one or two facts (tweets) about your education, certifications and designations – whatever education you have to offer, so the hiring manager doesn’t have to drag this information out of you. Point 4, Point 5.

On another sheet of paper, state five qualities that make you stand out in a positive manner, citing words that a Hiring Manager hasn’t heard 100 times before and words that support your target goal. Point 6.

Do not make the hiring manager work and work and work to get to know you. In short, get to the point. No wishy-washy. No dilly-dally. No shilly-shally. No time to waste. To the point.

A friend and I were chatting about 2015 and all of the character-building moments we had experienced throughout the year. Ups, downs, sideways, joys, loss, happiness, heartbreak, and gratitude. Our chat then turned to 2016 and thoughts we had about the upcoming New Year. We chatted about the “al’s” of life and how they shape us, drive us, define us, brand us, break us, and teach us. What are your strategies for creating, developing and sustaining habits of excellence in 2016 for each "al" entry listed below?